The History of Wine - Origins and Production
Wine has been around for nearly eight thousand years and it is here to stay. It has it origins in the cradle of civilization and has been around since before humans invented writing. The first known locations that wine was discovered was in what is now known as Georgia around 6000 BC. Archaeologists have found the fossilized remnants of crushed grape skins, seeds and stems that leads them to believe that the people who lived there were the first wine makers in history.
In Europe the first traces of wine production was uncovered in northern Greece and around 4000 BC. It is believed that the knowledge of wine making travelled to this region through traders and merchants that bought and sold wine as a commodity.
In Egypt wine making sites were also discovered. It is believed that ancient Egyptians used their wines in their ceremonies. The Egyptians increased wine production by implementing hybrid species of the grape vines and also by creating irrigation systems that helped the vines to grow in the Nile delta. Traces of wine production can also be found in china dating back to the first millennium BC.
Wine was common in ancient Greece and Rome. It was the favourite drink among the rich and powerful of those times. The Greeks and Romans even went so far as to name one of their gods after this beloved drink. Bacchus was the Roman God of wine, while Dionysus was the Greek version of this god.
During the roman period wine production was increased and improved by the many technological improvements that the Romans had to offer. These improvements included the wine press to increase production and the wooden barrel to age and flavor their wines.
Wine flourished during the medieval times of Europe with the help of the catholic church. The church encouraged its production and was used in mass ceremonies while in medieval Islamic countries, wine was forbidden as was all alcoholic products.
During the medieval times it was an order of benedictine monks that made wine into a massively produced product and one of their leaders, Dom Perignon, went one step further and is said to have invented champagne.
In North America Wine was introduced by the Spanish conquistadors who first brought it to Mexico to provide it to the catholic church for their ceremonies. They planted their vines at church yards and created a variety of grapes that is commonly called a mission grape.
Today, wine has crossed the entire globe and is produced on every continent, with the exception being Antarctica, although wine is definitely drunk there.
In Europe the first traces of wine production was uncovered in northern Greece and around 4000 BC. It is believed that the knowledge of wine making travelled to this region through traders and merchants that bought and sold wine as a commodity.
In Egypt wine making sites were also discovered. It is believed that ancient Egyptians used their wines in their ceremonies. The Egyptians increased wine production by implementing hybrid species of the grape vines and also by creating irrigation systems that helped the vines to grow in the Nile delta. Traces of wine production can also be found in china dating back to the first millennium BC.
Wine was common in ancient Greece and Rome. It was the favourite drink among the rich and powerful of those times. The Greeks and Romans even went so far as to name one of their gods after this beloved drink. Bacchus was the Roman God of wine, while Dionysus was the Greek version of this god.
During the roman period wine production was increased and improved by the many technological improvements that the Romans had to offer. These improvements included the wine press to increase production and the wooden barrel to age and flavor their wines.
Wine flourished during the medieval times of Europe with the help of the catholic church. The church encouraged its production and was used in mass ceremonies while in medieval Islamic countries, wine was forbidden as was all alcoholic products.
During the medieval times it was an order of benedictine monks that made wine into a massively produced product and one of their leaders, Dom Perignon, went one step further and is said to have invented champagne.
In North America Wine was introduced by the Spanish conquistadors who first brought it to Mexico to provide it to the catholic church for their ceremonies. They planted their vines at church yards and created a variety of grapes that is commonly called a mission grape.
Today, wine has crossed the entire globe and is produced on every continent, with the exception being Antarctica, although wine is definitely drunk there.
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